Update on the stripe painting. After much debate and photoshopped test-comps, reversing the angle and trying varying shades of red and two-tone reds and grays, the decision was finally made to do this:

The orders came from the highest authority on such matters. I appreciate everyone who I consulted and bugged the hell over this trivial thing. I am pleased however that it does remain in the final design and is better than I had imagined.

I can't tell you how many fandom attempts I've seen, trying to eliminate The Neck, marry the secondary hull with the saucer, and getting crap-all results. This? THIS is how it's done.

No red pennant... but we got two-tone grey, so I'm happy for the extra "visual interest" this will surely generate... Please let us know how the conversations go at W'Fest, especially on that score.

What color will the deflector be? What else remains?

Much praise, Admiral; Sentinel is an inspiration-
-SF

Much appreciated SCI! We'll keep a score of how the stripe is received at WF. I suspect it will be a love/hate reaction.

The main sensor dish paint finish has been delayed because of a faulty bottle of Alclad Pale Burnt Metal - which should have had a gold tone. This bottle is anything but that. New stock is on it's way with a delivery date the day before I leave for WF since it's not locally available. The plans call to leave the natural brass on the spire (I'll simply clear coat it). The dish itself will have several tones of titanium gold, pale burnt metal, pale gold and duraluminum.

The to-do list is finally down to one page! Areas remaining for completion:

Going into the last weekend of work on S and I'm actually sad that this project is nearing it's end. It's been a fun ride from the start. Last night, the last of the hull painting was completed - the lower hull geometrics were masked and airbrushed. Not seen here is the large red-outlined rectangle on the cove beneath the hangar.